March 5 marks the official launch of the new ATSC 3.0 next-gen broadcast transmission standard, at least in terms of the FCC's authorization of the new voluntary rollout.
WRAL-TV Raleigh, N.C., a pioneering station in the delivery of next-generation TV has already kicked the tires on ATSC 3.0 with the a test last month providing the first Winter Olympics broadcast in 4K HD.
The FCC still has some decisions to make about how the service will be rolled out, though it has already determined that it will be voluntary, that stations will initially have to simulcast both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 with in-market TV station partners (ATSC 3.0 is not backward compatible).
ATSC 3.0 Rollout Can Begin Next Month
The Advanced Television Systems Committee, which came up with the technical standard will be led by Madeleine Noland of LG Electronics, who is succeeding Triveni Digital's Rich Chernock atop the ATSC Technology Group.
There is still more standards work to be done, said ATSC president Mark Richer, but the race to next-gen TV has officially begun.